The Cleveland Browns were the talk of the 2025 NFL Draft after trading down and selecting Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. What exactly are the Browns getting in their new defender, and what kind of a player does his tape show?
We previously looked at two games from Graham's 2023 campaign, and today we'll begin going through his 2024 film, beginning with his Week 2 performance against the Texas Longhorns. This was a good test for Graham and the rest of the Michigan defense, as not only is Texas one of the top programs in college football, their offensive line was stacked in 2024, with three draft picks, an undrafted free agent who was considered one of the class's top center prospects, and a guard who could be a high selection next year.
Graham proved he was up to the challenge, playing well even though the Wolverines lost handily. This game was also an introduction to a new role that Graham would be playing in 2024 - instead of being relegated to primarily a two-gap responsibility, Graham was moved around the line of scrimmage, even taking snaps as a standup edge-rusher, something rarely seen for a defensive tackle, especially one without ideal physical traits.
In the first clip below, Graham ends up on the ground, but prior to that, he shows off some nice fluidity and a quick swim move, all from a standup wide-nine stance outside of the tight end. In the second clip, he bends around the tight end and forces the quarterback to escape the pocket vertically. Both of these snaps are impressive for a player who stands 6-3 and around 320 pounds. Graham didn't provide any athletic testing, and perhaps he wouldn't have put up the most eye-popping explosion numbers, but he is unusually nimble for his size.